What denomination is the right denomination and how can you tell.?

Question

I am really confused, because it seems like Jesus is allowing Christians to splinter into different sects, everyone has its own set of beliefs and claims that God brought their church into existence with the truth. How can you tell who is right and who is wrong. It seems that the Bible isn't the answer because reading and interpreting the Bible is how these denominations broke off in the first place?

HELP

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses have the true religion. They are Christian (of course), but they are unique for their rejection of paganisms, use of God's personal name, and global preaching by every active adherent. No other religious organization can claim such purity of worship.

These facts about Jehovah's Witnesses are perhaps relevant to this question. The more one compares this Christian religion with others, the more remarkable it is shown to be.

1. Jehovah's Witnesses have no paid clergy. Yet they remain tightly organized with more than 6.5 million active Jehovah's Witness preachers (about 16 million associate themselves with the religion). Even fulltime preachers and workers at their branch offices are unpaid volunteers.

2. There is no elite class among Jehovah's Witnesses. Even the few 'anointed' among them enjoy no special privileges in their congregations on earth. An anointed person (one of those relative few with a heavenly hope) is not elevated above his fellow congregants in any way, and he may not even qualify for appointment as a simple 'deacon' or elder. There are no titles; EVERYONE is addressed as 'brother' or 'sister'.

3. No person benefits economically from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even the 8 to 20 men who serve on their Governing Body receive simply room, board, medical care, and reimbursement for certain personal expenses according to the exact same provision as every other branch volunteer.

4. About a hundred men have served on Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body committee during the past 125 years or so. The vast majority of them have spent the vast majority of their adult lives volunteering for their organization's purposes, and the vast majority have died faithfully and near-pennilessly while still under their legal 'vow of poverty'.

5. Amazingly, Jehovah's Witnesses did not splinter as a sect from some other religion. Instead, a truly tiny but sincere group of bible students studied only the Scriptures to determine the will of God. Thus their religion remains absolutely independent of and not carrying the sins of Christendom's history, yet carries the authority of Christ's teachings.

6. Despite the distortions of anti-Witnesses, throughout their modern history Jehovah's Witnesses have refused to claim divine inspiration or infallibility for their teachings. They have pointed to the bible (and not any particular translation) as the only inspired infallible means of knowing God's thoughts. For over 125 years, their teachings have been presented as merely the results of sincere bible research by imperfect but godly humans.

Answer 2

As an atheist, I take this very dilemma as an argument against religion. Perhaps there is a God. But the different denominations are about man interpreting the Bible and other sources differently. How is it possible that one is more correct than another.

And you can take that same argument further and ask whether Christianity is right or if it's something else like Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, or something else entirely.

Religion and the belief in God are about faith. You have to figure out what seems right to you. If you insist on belonging to a denomination, you should look at the core beliefs of the different denominations and find the one that most closely matches your beliefs.

Answer 3

Very good question! No "Religion" or "denomination" is right unless you are in one of the two God finds favor in. Two of the Seven churches in REV. Smyrna or Philadelphia.
Have you just read the Bible? Many people ask questions like this because they think the "Pastor" is holy or has a better connection to God. Nope, God loves all and HE is more than able to help you understand if you just ask then open the Bible & begin.
Thier own set of beliefs, rules, begging for money by the passing of the plate (sorry, not biblical) is NOT Gods. Like this, show me where it is written God does not forgive divorce? He does. It is not the unpardonable sin. He said He will forgive ALL sins if one repents. (aside from murder which is not forgiven while in the flesh body)
Man has built some beautifull churches and fun churches as well but that does not mean they teach the truth, You have to read it yourself;-) I really hope you do. More than that, YOUR Father God hopes more than I.
Please read what HE said, not man, you won't be sorry, I promise! The version used by most Scholars is the King James Version. (Not the New KJV) and Strongs Hebrew Dictionary/Concordance.
Sad how we read so many books in our lives but not Gods own Word to us:-( This link below has a link on the left side to read the Bible in one year, it works:-)

Answer 4

You do not need to subscribe to any denomination to be a Christian or to have a realtionship with God. There are things that are good about every denomination and having fellowship with other Christians is a gift from God, but is not required. I have studied the bible for the past 6 years with Pastor Arnold Murray of the Shepherd's Chapel Network. He is a non-denominational bible teacher. There is a webcast everyday. I am still looking for a church in my area that teaches the word and I have a connection with the people. So don't think in terms of the right denomination, study the bible and let God lead you to the right way for you to worship Him.

Answer 5

well the important part is that you are following God. and as far as deciding which denomination is right for you is completely up to you. some branches are more open than others. when choosing a church i tend to like smaller ones instead of flashy ones because a church isn't supposed to be about a building it's about the people in the building. also if a sermon becomes a bashing session instead of a lesson than i walk out. i feel that a church is a place where you are supposed to go to feel loved and not judged based on sex or race or how much money you have etc. it's supposed to be a place where you feel welcomed instead of shunned. Jesus loved everyone and we are all sinners so the churches that are humble in their teachings are the types of churches i like. i don't like to go to a church that bashes people who sin but act as though they are with out sin themselves. the important thing is live the way you feel you should be living. it's really all the same except some interpret things a little different than others. as long as you've accepted Jesus as your savior you're definitely on the right track regardless. i know it's not a real answer just an opinion. but i hope it helps anyway

Answer 6

Great question! WOW! It's about time somebody asked. I have long taken issue with the idea of denominations. I grew up going to a baptist church and then Reformed Church of America. I have even written an article in a magazine sharing my frustration with the way Christians have set up battle lines between themselves. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father, except through me." It doesn't matter about this little issue here, or that little issue there. We are told to believe in the message of Christ and to strive each day to show His love and mercy. This is a lifestyle, not a matter of "oh, I believe this and you believe that so I'm going to Heaven and you're going to hell." The only issue that matters is whether you truly believe in Jesus Christ, and if you do, your life will be showing it! The first century church recorded in the book of Acts is the perfect example of what "church" should be! People meeting together to glorify God and through fellowship share Christ's love with one another. They actually knew each other and cared about what happened to each other. They prayed ferverently for each other, and so lived the life of love that Jesus desires. They still messed up, but they were all in unison with each other on the important details of life and living for God.

The Bible is very absolute about things. We, however, as sinful humans fail to completely understand or comprehend all that the Bible says. We are the reason our faith has been split up into smaller sections, not the Bible. Thanks for the question and I hope I have been of some help.

Answer 7

It isn't so much about how much we know that matters.What really matters is that you are doing what little you know to do, and hunger to do more.Jesus said blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be filled.Many times are knowledge gets in God's road.When we come willing and not knowing , He will show us the way.In many of the Psalms it says "lead me Lord" and in this Spirit , God will always lead us in the right path.Example: If someone tells you that you need to abstain from certain meats,ask why and where it says it in the Bible.If they tell you because the church says to.Start looking for yourself.Read 1Timothy 4:3 and you'll find this to be not the truth.God and His word will always provide you with the truth.If you do things ignorantly just ask God to forgive you when you receive the truth,until then it's under grace.If you sin willfully when you know things are not right it is sin.God is a wonderful and merciful God.He understands that we don't know it all.But He also knows what is in the heart and that is were He is looking.Don't allow satan to give you that old excuse for not serving God,He will take you just as you are.

Answer 8

Most Christians do believe in the same basic truths of this faith. If that Church believes in the Apostles Creed, then it is sticking to the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The disagreements are over other issues that do not affect the person salvation. So, go to a Church that teaches about Jesus, born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He arose again on the third day and ascended into Heaven. From there He will come again to judge that living and the dead. And I would not go to a Church that doesn't believe in the Word of God.

Answer 9

Denomination is a red herring. Dump it! Know that the Church of Christ is comprised of untold millions of believers in Jesus, the world over, from every Christian branch. Jesus warned that after he planted good seed, the enemy came behind and planted weeds. When the weeds began to show, his concerned followers asked permission to weed them out. But the Lord of the Harvest said, "No. Let them alone. At the end of the age, my servants, the angels, will come and tear them out and cast them into the fire." (Or words to that effect. Read Matthew ch 13). So there are going to be false disciples amongst the genuine ones, and it's God's job to sort them out.

Just keep asking, seeking and knocking, friend, and the door WILL be opened to you. Oh, a word of warning to Sparkle1 who would stake her life on the JWs being right. Don't. Pick up your cross daily and follow Christ, nobody else. The Christ of the JWs is 'a cardboard Christ'. Identify the living Christ, who is worshipped and obeyed - the Lord of the Church (as opposed to a dozen men who claim to be God's channel today, and that everyone criticising them will perish at Armageddon.)

Answer 10

Actually the Bible is the answer. At the close of the Bible God gave instructions to His people that nothing was to be taken away from the Bible and nothing was to be added to it. (The last verses of the Bible) Every false way, denomination, cult, religion, personal belief comes as a result of either adding to or taking away from the Bible. Cults often add a second book.(Book of Mormon,etc) False religions add traditions (Catholic Church adds Pope, traditions, sacrements etc). Holiness churches add experiences (Like pentacostals add tongues, healings, miracles visions, and dreams as proof of truth) Religions add more scripture (Quaran). Whenever you add human teaching to divine teaching it always adds error. Even Hummanism and Liberalism, and athiesm add reason and human logic. I challange you to take any religion and look at what they emphasize and you will see either they add to or take away from the Bible. Many Christians who want to see the church come back to truth are stressing some form of "Back to the Bible" as the last hope for a strong church. Bottom line we need to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.

Answer 11

The one that preaches the gospel and doesn't add any man made crap is the real church.
Do we sprinkle or dunk? Do we worship on Sat. or Sunday?Are the "Gifts " for today or did they end with the Apostolic Age?Do we have Sunday school before the Service or Mid-Week?
See,that's all the junk Christians split on,but the message is the same.Now ,when it comes to Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon's that's a different animal altogether.Now you are talking about differences in the Nature of God and Jesus Christ.That's what we really split over.The rest of the stuff is just cosmetic crapola.